STEVE COPPELL has come out fighting by warning West Ham United that Reading will not be seen as a soft touch – on or off the pitch.

Royals play host to the Hammers in the Premier League tomorrow (3pm kick off), battling to keep star performer Nicky Shorey away from the clutches of their visitors.

The club turned down a “nigh on derisory” £4million bid from the Londoners earlier this week, but his long-term future remains in the balance.

Shorey still has two years left on his contract at Madejski Stadium, and with no replacement lined up Reading are in no rush to let him go.

The Romford-born left-back would be interested in a move to Upton Park, but with the transfer deadline looming, even an improved £6m offer may not be enough to tempt Reading into selling – at least until January.

“West Ham were his boyhood club so he has an affinity with them,” said Coppell. “I want him to stay here, but I can’t say he will.

“We politely declined their offer. We thought it was a nigh on derisory offer and we have turned it down immediately.

“As far as I’m aware, there has not been any contact between the clubs since and as far as I see it’s closed.”

The timing couldn’t be worse for Reading with the Hammers visiting Madejski Stadium tomorrow.

But Coppell insists Royals will not be made to look stupid by any club who think they can take their stars on the cheap.

The boss added: “Because we are not a big club and not aggressive in the transfer market it doesn’t mean we are a dormant soft touch.

“Our chairman is a businessman. We are not a soft touch and we are not just going to give away our players who we have invested many years of time and commitment to.

“We don’t want to be seen as a club where you are allowed to leave for what is not a fair price.

“Four million pounds is a lot of money but as far as we’re concerned we look at the climate of players and it was just a flier.

“It was just a ‘they’ll turn it down, but you never know, they might be stupid enough to take it’, but we’re not.”

Although Coppell was not happy West Ham’s offer was made public, he does not believe there was a cynical ploy from the Hammers to unsettle his team ahead of their visit to Madejski Stadium.

He added: “I think it is just coincidence of the fixtures. We can’t stop people making offers.

“I long to go back to those days where a phone call is made and business would be done in private. It seems now that if you make an offer then it gives the right for it to be discussed in the public domain.

“It’s just a part of football now. The deadline is an artificial construction that creates a feeding frenzy.”

Shorey has recovered from the knee injury he sustained while playing for England. He will play for Reading providing a move to the Hammers does not go though.

The left-back refused to talk about the transfer speculation, but he said: “I have trained and I feel good. I did my injury in the second half against Germany when I just slipped.

“I didn’t feel it much until the next day, but I have trained and I feel all right.”